Just Liberty

Liberty Magazine & Adventist Learning Community
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  • POLITICS
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Just Liberty: Where Justice and Liberty Meet The whole idea of religious freedom in America has taken a PR hit. For some, it’s a cover for bigotry or tool for Christian nationalists; for others it’s the last line of defense in a society that’s becoming hostile to traditional faith. Is there a better way to think and talk about religious freedom in America that doesn’t buy into political extremes? Join hosts Alan Reinach, executive director of the Church-State Council, who has been litigating religious liberty cases for nearly 40 years, and Bettina Krause, editor of Liberty Magazine, which has been at the forefront of religious liberty conversations since 1906. Together, they interview experts in law, politics, and faith, and tackle tough religious freedom questions, not just from the courts but also from culture. Listen to Just Liberty for a fresh, balanced take on religious liberty and church-state issues. Coming Spring 2024. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

  1. 2D AGO

    71: A Graphic Witness - with Knox Thames and Matt Yocum

    In a country where blasphemy can carry a death sentence, Pakistani politician Shahbaz Bhatti understood the cost of defending religious minorities—and ultimately paid it. Fifteen years after his assassination, his story is being retold through a creative medium aimed at engaging a new generation in the fight for religious freedom. Show Notes Book | Matt Yocum, Jordan Holt, Blood and Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti (Ignatius Press: February 2026). Article | Knox Thames, "A Pakistani Martyr for Religious Freedom," The Dispatch (March 1, 2026).  Article | Forthcoming, Céleste Perrino, "A Candle in the Darkness: The Life of Shahbaz Bhatti," Liberty magazine (May-June 2026). Website | www.mattyocum.com   Website | www.knoxthames.com

    39 min

  2. APR 28

    Religious freedom's "use-by date"? (Replay) - with Jaziah Masters

    Religious freedom in America may be headed toward the edge of a cliff. Why? Because survey after survey shows that younger generations of Americans neither understand nor value the crucial role religious freedom plays in our democracy. What's behind this worrying trend? And can anything be done to rehabilitate the reputation of religious freedom in the eyes of Gen-Zs and Millennials? Interview with Jaziah B. Masters, Research Fellow, Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation, Baptist Joint Committee. Note: This is a replay with our Oct 3, 2023 interview with Jaziah Masters. The video version of this episode can be found on Youtube: Show Notes Article |  "A Religious Freedom Wake-up Call" - by Jaziah Masters for Liberty magazine: https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/a-religious-freedom-wake-up-call

    26 min

  3. APR 21

    The Bewitching of the American Mind (Replay) - with Molly Worthen

    It's far more than simply charm, or rhetorical skill, or political savvy. Charisma is a powerful force that has shaped American public and religious life--for both good and ill--for more than four centuries. Could an undertanding of this phenomenon help us make better sense of our national story? And why does it seem that Americans of faith are particularly vulnerable to its allure? Interview with Molly Worthen, author of Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Purtians to Donald Trump. Note: This is a replay of our July 15, 2025 interview with Molly Worthen. The video version of this episode can be found on Youtube: Show Notes Book | Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump, by Molly Worthen - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746737/spellbound-by-molly-worthen/ Article | "Charisma Rules the World" by Molly Worthen, New York Times (June 16, 2025) -  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/opinion/charisma-history-trump.html

    9 min

  4. APR 14

    Replay: Power worshipping and Christian nationalism - with Katherine Stewart

    Replay: An investigative journalist spent years exploring the politicization of American Christianity. Her work resulted in not just two best-selling books, but also a documentary, God & Country, which was produced by Hollywood actor and producer Rob Reiner. What first sparked her interest in this topic, and what lessons has she learned about the dangers of Christian nationalism? Interview originally recorded Feb 12, 2024, and released in Episode 13: Power Worshipping and Christian Nationalism on May 28, 2024. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/RQSPE4QfAD4 ___ Guest: Katherine Stewart, investigative journalist and author of The Power Worshippers and Money, Lies and God X: @kathsstewart Katherine Stewart's website: https://katherinestewart.me/ ___ Show Notes Book | The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, by Katherine Stewart - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-worshippers-inside-the-dangerous-rise-of-religious-nationalism-katherine-stewart/f312e6c8c600777e?ean=9781635577877&next=t Book | Money, Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy by Katherine Stewart - https://bookshop.org/p/books/money-lies-and-god-inside-the-movement-to-destroy-american-democracy-katherine-stewart/af9fba08518c5c37?ean=9781635578546&next=t Documentary Film | God and Country, based on The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart - https://godandcountrythemovie.com

    24 min

  5. APR 7

    Replay: Tracing the Historical Record of Church-State Separation - with Steven K. Green

    How can we make sense of competing visions for the role of religion in American governance? We can start by following the paper trail left by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Interview originally recorded March 27, 2025, and released in Episode 46: Skeptics of church-state separation versus the historical record" on April 29, 2025. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/2DWjEjg5vrg ___ Guest: Steven K. Green, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Religion, Law & Democracy, Willamette University ___ Show Notes Book | The Grand Collaboration: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Invention of American Religious Freedom by Steven K. Green https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/10018/

    37 min

  6. MAR 31

    Replay: American propaganda and the making of a civil religion - with Andrew Polk

    Replay: No--"In God We Trust" wasn't inscribed on our currency during the founding era. And the motto "One Nation Under God" has a more recent origin than many might suspect.  We take a fascinating journey into a little-known era of American history; a time when the government was in the business of creating an "American religion." Guest: Andrew R. Polk, Associate Professor and Director of History Education, Middle Tennessee State University. Originally recorded on Nov 13, 2023 and released on May 23, 2024 in Episode 10: American propaganda and the making of a civil religion. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/8VpDfMgQtqA ___ Show Notes Book: Faith in Freedom: Propaganda, Presidential Politics, and the Making of an American Religion by Andrew Polk - https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501759222/faith-in-freedom/ Liberty magazine article by Andrew Polk - https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/religious-propaganda-and-the-making-of-an-american-religion;

    26 min

  7. FEB 24

    70. Neither Left nor Right: Interview with Justin Giboney

    Many Christians are exhausted by politics—caught between culture wars, partisan pressure, and a sense that something vital has been lost. This episode explores a healthier vision of public faith, drawing on the Black church’s tradition to ask how moral clarity, spiritual depth, and faithful witness can take us beyond "politics as usual." This episode was recorded on January 14, 2026. ___ Guest: Justin Giboney, Founder and President, AND Campaign Social media: @JustinEGiboney Explore More Book | Justin E. Giboney, Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around: How the Black Church's Public Witness Leads Us out of the Culture War, Intervarsity Press, 2025). https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Nobody-Turn-Around/dp/1514008424 Website | The AND Campaign https://www.andcampaign.org/about-us

    38 min

  8. FEB 17

    69. Severed Lifelines: Interview with Matthew Soerens

    Foreign aid and refugee policy rarely stay in the headlines—but their consequences can be life-or-death. This episode looks at the quiet dismantling of U.S. humanitarian aid, sweeping changes to refugee policy, and how decisions made in Washington are reshaping care for the world’s most vulnerable, with profound moral and religious implications. This episode was recorded on January 14, 2026. Explore More Website | https://worldrelief.org Book | Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang, Welcoming the Stranger (Intervarsity Press, 2018). https://worldrelief.org/welcoming-the-stranger/ ___ Guest: Matthew Soerens, Vice President of Advocacy & Policy, World Relief X: @MatthewSoerens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsoerens/

    38 min
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About

Just Liberty: Where Justice and Liberty Meet The whole idea of religious freedom in America has taken a PR hit. For some, it’s a cover for bigotry or tool for Christian nationalists; for others it’s the last line of defense in a society that’s becoming hostile to traditional faith. Is there a better way to think and talk about religious freedom in America that doesn’t buy into political extremes? Join hosts Alan Reinach, executive director of the Church-State Council, who has been litigating religious liberty cases for nearly 40 years, and Bettina Krause, editor of Liberty Magazine, which has been at the forefront of religious liberty conversations since 1906. Together, they interview experts in law, politics, and faith, and tackle tough religious freedom questions, not just from the courts but also from culture. Listen to Just Liberty for a fresh, balanced take on religious liberty and church-state issues. Coming Spring 2024. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Information

  • Creator
    Liberty Magazine & Adventist Learning Community
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Just Liberty

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